Development of Monosyllabic Trochee Polysyllabic (MTP) Test in Sinhala for Native Language Speakers in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Development of Monosyllabic-Trochee-Polysyllabic (MTP) test in Sinhala aims to be used in measuring auditory performances such as identification and auditory discrimination in children who are audiological rehabilitated with their native language. The study employed a mixed study design, with simple random sampling and multistage sampling methods used to select the sample from the pre-school and school set up. The participants were chosen upon obtaining a written consent form to ensure their voluntary participation in the study. A Total number of two hundred forty (200) subjects were tested, which includes hundred and five (105) males and ninety five (95) females between the ages two (2) to eight (8) years which was then categorized into six (6) sub-groups according to their age. All participants had to be native Sinhala speakers with normal hearing with no audiological and otological problems, with normal speech and language development and of the same age. For this purpose, all participants were directed to a pre-test evaluation. Prior to administering the test, a pilot study was carried out. After that, the test was administered by using a formulated Sinhala MTP word list where the subject was asked to repeat or point out relevant pictures similar to the presented stimuli. Marks were allocated for each correct pattern identification and/or word identification. SPSS analyzing data indicated the MTP performance score was not affected by age group, gender, parental education level of the participants, communication opportunity, having or not having siblings and home environment. Through the study, except ‘kesel’, the rest of the words in Sinhala MTP test, was age appropriate and socio- culturally appropriate for Sinhala speaking children in Sri Lanka. Further, MTP lists can use as a clinical assessment tool for cochlear implantees and hearing aid users.